PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mahmoud Modaro (ranked 3026 p4p, 370 weight class) and Ropho Sully (ranked 3015 p4p, 368 weight class). Sully is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zE4-LX0wrY. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Modaro
vs
Sully

170 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

182 cm
25
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mahmoud Modaro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ropho Sully!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sully throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Modaro counters with a single leg into guard. Sully didn't expect that.
Sully wants to get back to his feet but Modaro passes into half guard.

Modaro keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Modaro seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Well, if Modaro is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Modaro has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Sully avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Modaro.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Modaro missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Modaro in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Modaro thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Modaro landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sully tries to kick Modaro off but Modaro keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Modaro prevents Sully from improving his position.
Modaro not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Modaro has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Modaro looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sully misses with a straight right.
Modaro feinted with a counter takedown.
Sully throws a big shot that misses.
Sully throws a sloppy head kick and Modaro moves out of range easily.

Modaro shoots in and bounces Sully off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Modaro slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Modaro is standing up over Sully. Sully looks to escape but Modaro dives into side control.
Sully seems a little lost for a moment, as Modaro dominates the positioning.
Modaro works to advance to full mount. Sully defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Modaro tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Modaro seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Sully for as long as he can get away with.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sully can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sully tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Modaro looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Modaro prevents Sully from getting the reversal.
Modaro tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahmoud Modaro dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Modaro walks into a stiff left hand from Sully.
Modaro looks for a takedown but Sully sprawls well.

Modaro looking to score a takedown here. Sully is defending well but Modaro drives through and ends up in Sully's guard.
Modaro sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Modaro makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Modaro slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Modaro's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sully.
Sully connects with a jab.
A combination from Sully does no damage.
A swing and a miss from Sully.
Modaro is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sully can do to turn this around?
Sully throws a looping overhand right but Modaro ducks down to avoid it.
Modaro attempts a counter takedown but Sully avoids it well and moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Sully. No joy for Modaro on that attempt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Sully.
Sully throws a poor cross that misses

and Modaro counters with a shoot takedown. Sully fights it but they end up in guard.
Modaro is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Modaro.
Mahmoud Modaro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Modaro prevents Sully from getting back to his feet.
Modaro controlling from the top position.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Modaro.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Nice defenses there by Modaro.

Sully gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Modaro to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Modaro with a nice head shot there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sully looking to control.
Sully is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Modaro showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mahmoud Modaro will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sully connects with a good right hand that stumbles Modaro. Modaro circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Sully is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Modaro looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Modaro shoots in looking for a takedown but Sully manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Modaro's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Modaro walks into a jab.
Sully looks to land a body kick but Modaro moved away.

Modaro drives through with a takedown into Sully's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sully wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Modaro is now in half guard.
Modaro sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Modaro is stinking the place up with his stalling.
We've been informed that Sully has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Modaro working Sully over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Modaro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Modaro is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Modaro content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sully misses the shot to the body.
Modaro appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Modaro shoots in and drives through. Sully sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mahmoud Modaro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sully throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Modaro counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Modaro.
Sully being controlled here, momentarily.
Modaro continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
More hug and hope from Modaro.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Modaro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mahmoud Modaro showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Modaro, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mahmoud Modaro!